- Mailing Address
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500 West University
OBU Box 61174
Shawnee, Oklahoma 74804 - Phone
- (405) 585-5000
- Email address
- admissions@okbu.edu
- Website
- https://www.okbu.edu/
- School Information
- "Oklahoma Baptist University is a Christian liberal arts university in Shawnee, 30 minutes east of Oklahoma City. At OBU you will learn how all knowledge connects and how that framework can be informed by a thoughtful Christian worldview. You will have the choice of more than 80 areas of study, the opportunity to work and study abroad and the chance to engage faculty mentors. All of this occurs in a supportive, Christian community; one that's dedicated to the highest intellectual and ethical standards. Intellectual, social and spiritual growth ... this is what an OBU education is all about" (Source: https://www.okbu.edu/about/index.html). The school was founded in 1910. OBU has a student to faculty ratio of 13 to 1 and a total enrollment of over 1,500. There are 84 full-time faculty members. 4 master's degrees are offered as well.
- General Information
- Oklahoma Baptist University has responded to the death of George Floyd by curating a Kingdom Diversity Initiative. This initiative entails a restructuring of all school policies in order to support DEI. As part of this initiative, all students, faculty, and staff will be given DEI training. OBU has also engaged in other initiatives, including the formation of a Diversity Committee and various student affinity groups. See developments below:
Actions Taken
- Anti-Racism, Bias, and Diversity Training
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On June 5, 2020, OBU released a statement in response to the death of George Floyd, stating, "Oklahoma Baptist University stands resolutely against injustice and racial inequalities." OBU also outlined steps it will take, including instituting "regular required diversity training for all students and employees, including a study of the history of racism in this nation and the ways in which it manifests today."
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Additionally, as part of the Kingdom Diversity Plan, the university will "train and equip individuals at every level with an understanding of biblical diversity on personal, interpersonal and organizational levels." DEI training and education will be administered "to every level (senior leaders, faculty, staff, and students)."
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- Resources
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In 2021, the university president held a conversation with Jemar Tisby, the author of "How to Fight Racism: Courageous Christianity and the Journey Toward Racial Justice," and discussed "the book, its framework, and how it can specifically help Christian college and university leaders think through these issues and develop practical, actionable steps to pursue justice and racial reconciliation."
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On June 5, 2020, OBU announced that the school will hold "regular meetings with diverse groups of students scheduled with the administration to voice and address concerns of racial inequalities, among other concerns."
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On June 5, 2020, OBU announced that the school will create "support systems implemented on campus specifically for our African American students as well as all members of our diverse student population."
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OBU created a Kingdom Diversity Initiative that will "ensure that the diversity plan is built around, linked to and aligned with the University’s strategic priorities under an overarching framework." This will involve effort from all organizations and students in addition to the leadership team.
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The Office of University Culture hosts student affinity groups which support the Kingdom Diversity Initiative. The Kingdom Diversity Initiative is also supported by the Student Government Association.
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On August 27, 2020, the school announced it would host a session with B.J. Glover, a DEI expert, within the business school.
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- Symbolic Actions
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On June 2, 2020, OBU released a statement saying, "OBU mourns the violence and injustice perpetrated in our country even to this day. The killing of George Floyd testifies yet again to racism and injustice in our country and communities."
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On February 14, 2018, the authors of the book, "Removing the Stain of Racism from the Southern Baptist Convention," came to OBU and held a "discussion on racial unity and the stain of white supremacy."
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